Senior director Bharathi Raja has joined the cause of supporting Vadivelu’s comeback film Thenaliraman. The septuagenarian director has sent a detailed five page statement condemning the trend of protesting against Tamil films that have been censored and allowed for public viewing.

The 16 Vayathinile director has said he fears whether these kind of forcible requests to ban films is a well planned strategy of those who wish to see the downfall of Tamil cinema.

It is to be remembered that even after clarifications from AGS Entertainments, the producers of the film, a few Telugu factions have approached the Madras High court seeking a direction to screen the film to them before release since they fear, Vijayanagara King Krishnadevaraya has been portrayed in a bad light in the film.

Bharathi Raja has come hard against these kind of requests starting that in a film based on the chronicles of Thenali Raman who spoke Telugu, it is imperative to include certain things connected to Telugu people. And that does not justify the request to seek a special screening and if this has to happen why should we have a Censor board at all?

Meanwhile the director has also requested the Tamil speaking people to unite and oppose these kinds of activities that affect the freedom of Tamil artistes and technicians.